Pratitee Bordoloi leads Asian Jr Girls Chess; Mayank holds top spot
Synopsis
India's WFM Pratitee Bordoloi moved into sole lead at the Asian Junior Girls Classical Chess Championship in Mumbai with 6/7, while GM-elect Mayank Chakraborty held firm atop the Open section. Both leads are tight — four players are within a point of Pratitee, and three are breathing down Mayank's neck heading into the decisive final rounds.
Key Takeaways
WFM Pratitee Bordoloi leads the Asian Junior Girls Classical Chess Championship with 6 points from 7 games after defeating WCM Aadya Gowda in round 7.
WCM Shohradova Leyla (Turkmenistan) and FM Prishita Gupta are joint second with 5.5 points .
GM-elect Mayank Chakraborty holds the Open Championship lead with 6/7 , half a point ahead of IM Artem Pingin , IM Vignesh Advaith Vemula , and FM Sharnarthi Viresh .
FM Jaiveer Mahendru (rated 2326 ) upset IM Aaditya Dhingra (rated 2403 ) in an earlier round to briefly hold the Open lead.
Guru Prakash (rated 2113 ) held FM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma (rated 2363 ) to a draw, continuing a strong run above his rating.
WFM Pratitee Bordoloi, the top seed, surged into sole lead at the Asian Junior Girls Classical Chess Championship on 24 August after defeating WCM Aadya Gowda in the seventh round at the ITC Maratha Sheraton, Mumbai. The win pushed Pratitee's tally to six points from seven games, placing her half a point clear of her nearest rivals.
Girls Championship Standings After Round 7
WCM Shohradova Leyla of Turkmenistan, who had shared the lead heading into the round, was held to a draw by Shivamshika G. and dropped to 5.5 points. FM Prishita Gupta strengthened her title challenge with a win over WFM Nivedita V C, also reaching 5.5 points and joining Leyla in the immediate chasing group.
WFM Mariya Kholyavko of Kazakhstan and WCM Dakshita Kumawat drew their encounter, both moving to 5 points. With three rounds remaining, the title race in the Girls section is tightly contested, with four players within a point of the leader.
Open Championship: Mayank Holds Firm
In the Asian Junior Open Classical Chess Championship, top seed GM-elect Mayank Chakraborty of India retained his sole lead after seven rounds despite being held to a draw by IM Vignesh Advaith Vemula on the top board. The result kept Mayank's tally at six out of seven, maintaining his half-point cushion over the chasing pack.
IM Artem Pingin of Russia was held to a draw by Daksh Goyal in a notable upset. FM Sharnarthi Viresh capitalised with a win over FM Amanmuhammet Hommadov of Turkmenistan, moving to 5.5 points. Vignesh, Pingin, and Viresh now form the closest chasing group as the championship enters its decisive phase.
Earlier Rounds: Jaiveer's Stunning Upset
FM Jaiveer Mahendru, rated 2326, had earlier seized the sole lead in the Open section after a stunning upset victory over IM Aaditya Dhingra, rated 2403. The win underscored the unpredictable nature of junior chess, where rating gaps frequently fail to predict outcomes.
Another standout performer has been Guru Prakash, rated 2113, who continued his impressive run by holding FM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma, rated 2363, to a draw — a result that punched well above his rating bracket.
What to Watch in the Final Rounds
With the championship entering its decisive stage at the ITC Maratha Sheraton, Mumbai, both Pratitee and Mayank face the pressure of defending narrow leads against strong fields. Any slip could hand the title to one of several players within striking distance. The performances of India's junior contingent, particularly in the Girls section, have drawn attention to the depth of chess talent the country is producing at the junior level.
Point of View
But four players within a single point in a classical time-control event is anything but settled — one decisive game can reshuffle the standings entirely. What stands out is the strength of India's junior pipeline: Pratitee, Prishita, Mayank, and Viresh are all in contention simultaneously, suggesting the country's grassroots chess infrastructure is producing results. The upset by Jaiveer Mahendru over a 77-point higher-rated IM is the kind of result that rarely makes headlines but signals genuine competitive depth. The final rounds in Mumbai will test whether India can convert that depth into gold.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is leading the Asian Junior Girls Classical Chess Championship after round 7?
WFM Pratitee Bordoloi of India leads with 6 points from 7 games after defeating WCM Aadya Gowda in the seventh round at the ITC Maratha Sheraton, Mumbai. She is half a point ahead of WCM Shohradova Leyla and FM Prishita Gupta, who are tied at 5.5 points.
How is Mayank Chakraborty performing in the Asian Junior Open Chess Championship?
GM-elect Mayank Chakraborty holds the sole lead in the Open section with 6 points from 7 games, despite being held to a draw by IM Vignesh Advaith Vemula in round 7. He remains half a point ahead of the chasing group, which includes Vignesh, IM Artem Pingin, and FM Sharnarthi Viresh.
Where is the Asian Junior Classical Chess Championship being held?
The championship is being held at the ITC Maratha Sheraton in Mumbai. Both the Girls and Open sections are running simultaneously at the same venue.
Who are the biggest upsets so far in the tournament?
FM Jaiveer Mahendru, rated 2326, defeated IM Aaditya Dhingra, rated 2403, to briefly take the Open lead — a notable rating upset. Guru Prakash, rated 2113, also held FM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma, rated 2363, to a draw, continuing an impressive run above his rating.
How many rounds remain in the Asian Junior Chess Championship?
After the completion of round 7, the championship is entering its decisive stage, with several rounds still to be played. Both the Girls and Open sections remain highly competitive, with multiple players within striking distance of the leaders.
